Trumbo is a true story I didn't know much about but was very excited for. Its cast and trailer got me hooked. Now how is Trumbo? Better then you might think.
Trumbo is the true story of how a famous movie writer named Dalton Trumbo, who in the 1950's was brought up before the House on Un-American activities committee, and was blacklisted as a Communist and sent to jail for a year because he refused to name names. The movie shows the consequences of his stand, and how he out maneuvered the system to keep working as a screen writer. And was ultimately responsible for the Academy award winning films " Roman Holiday," and "Spartacus," which were both written when he was still blacklisted.
This is a terrific film, with a great cast including Bryan Cranston and Diane Lane as the Trumbo's, and a great turn from Louis CK as fellow screen writer Arlen Hird. Its so crazy that this happened but if anyone was going to survive it, it would be Dalton Trumbo. He developes a system to keep writing and supporting his family. And in turn, helps his fellow black listed writers stay alive in the industry too.
While this is an excellent film, and is up on most lists of one of the best of the year, I have a few problems with it. They don't age the children well. His oldest daughter starts off quite young, but the addition of Elle Fanning as his elder daughter left me a little cold as I don't think she passes for fourteen. (And later appears at a dinner where she would have been about 30 and doesn't pull that off either.) Some of the scenes were a little slow, and that led me to my last problem. Which was I felt like HBO should have taken this on. Because a two episode mini series would have served it better. But as a film, it still stands as a great bio pic.
THE VERDICT
Trumbo may feel like its for TV at times, but has excellent performances, and a very great story overall. I give Trumbo a A-.
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